Raipur, Nov 7 – A major win for Chhattisgarh’s anti‑Naxal drive came today when every active member of the Udanti Area Committee, the key Maoist group in the Gariaband‑Dhamtari‑Nuwapara zone, handed in their weapons and surrendered to police in Raipur.
Police said seven Maoists, among them two top commanders who each had a Rs 8‑lakh bounty on their heads, walked into a police station before Inspector General Amresh Mishra. The group also included Area Commander Sunil and Sachiv Arena, both high‑ranking fighters known for violent raids since 2010. They were joined by Ludron, Vidya, Nandini and Malesh, each carrying a Rs 5‑lakh bounty, and Kanti, who had a Rs 1‑lakh reward.
The surrendered cadre – four women and three men – arrived with six weapons: an SLR rifle, three INSAS rifles and a single‑shot gun. IG Mishra praised the move as a “crucial step toward restoring peace”. He noted that dismantling the Udanti Area Committee kills its ability to carry out attacks.
According to security officials, the surrender started when Commander Sunil publicly asked his comrades to lay down arms. His plea resonated, and the whole unit decided to quit the armed struggle. Police welcomed the turn, calling it a “positive shift” in the fight against Naxalism.
The surrendered men had been involved in a string of attacks over the last decade, spreading terror in Gariaband and neighbouring districts. Their decision to surrender should clear the way for new development projects and tighter security in the area. With the Udanti unit now crippled, authorities see the region moving into a new era of peace and progress, gradually eroding extremist influence.
The raid underscores the growing success of rehabilitation programs and community outreach that have helped turn former Maoists against the armed insurgency in Chhattisgarh.
sktr/uk
Source: ianslive
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